invasion

invasion — noun

1. a military operation in which one nation dispatches troops across a border to ta

1.nounB2
Definition

a military operation in which one nation dispatches troops across a border to take over another country

Example

The invasion of Normandy remains one of the largest military operations in history.

collocation: invasion of [place/event]

Eli's grandfather died during the invasion, leaving the family without a home.

Common collocations
  • launch an invasion
  • full-scale invasion
  • invasion force
  • repel an invasion
  • invasion plans
  • invasion route
Synonyms
  • attack

    broader term; an attack can be a single strike and does not necessarily aim to occupy territory

  • incursion

    a brief, usually exploratory entry into enemy territory without long-term occupation

  • occupation

    the prolonged control of territory after an invasion has succeeded

  • raid

    a swift, surprise attack with a specific goal, after which forces usually withdraw

Antonyms
  • withdrawal

    the removal of troops from previously invaded territory

  • retreat

    a forced move away from enemy territory, often after a failed invasion

Grammar Patterns

invasion of [place/country]

the invasion + verb

Usage Note

Often used with of to specify the target country or region when the invading force is already clear from context. Frequently appears in historical, political, and news reporting contexts.

Common Mistakes

Germany's invasion to Poland shocked the world.
Germany's invasion of Poland shocked the world.
The target of an invasion is introduced by of, not to.
The army launched an invasion at the city at midnight.
The army launched an invasion of the city at midnight.
The place being invaded is linked by of, not at.

2. a situation in which a great many people or things arrive at a location, causing

2.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which a great many people or things arrive at a location, causing disruption or annoyance

Example

The annual invasion of tourists turns the small village into a crowded marketplace.

collocation: invasion of tourists

Sahil complained about the invasion of insects that appeared after the heavy rains.

Common collocations
  • annual invasion
  • sudden invasion
  • invasion of tourists
  • invasion of pests
  • invasion of emails
Synonyms
  • influx

    a neutral term for a large arrival; lacks the negative tone of invasion

  • flood

    implies a sudden, overwhelming quantity, often of things rather than people

  • swarm

    suggests many small or moving things (insects, people) arriving together

Antonyms
  • exodus

    a mass departure of people from a place

Grammar Patterns

invasion of [people/things]

the + [time/year] + invasion of [place]

Usage Note

Commonly followed by of + a plural noun identifying the unwanted arrivals. Often refers to recurring seasonal events (tourists, insects) or sudden, overwhelming quantities (emails, reporters).

Common Mistakes

The invasion from tourists is ruining the beach.
The invasion of tourists is ruining the beach.
Use of (or occasionally by) to link the unwanted arrivals, not from.
A invasion of flies came through the window.
An invasion of flies came through the window.
Invasion begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article must be an.

3. an action that interferes with a person's private life or personal space in an u

3.nounB2
Definition

an action that interferes with a person's private life or personal space in an unwelcome and intrusive manner

Example

Reading someone's private diary without permission is an invasion of their privacy.

fixed phrase: invasion of privacy

Tyler considered the unexpected visit from his boss an invasion of his personal time.

Common collocations
  • invasion of privacy
  • invasion of personal space
  • clear invasion
  • gross invasion
  • invasion of personal life
Synonyms
  • intrusion

    gentler than invasion; suggests unwelcome entry without the same intensity

  • encroachment

    implies a gradual, creeping invasion of rights or space over time

  • violation

    stronger than invasion; suggests a breach of a rule, law, or moral boundary

Antonyms
  • respect

    showing regard for someone's privacy or personal space

  • protection

    the act of keeping someone's private life safe from interference

Grammar Patterns

an invasion of [privacy / personal space / personal life]

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the fixed pattern an invasion of followed by an abstract noun denoting a personal right or boundary (privacy, personal space, private life). Less commonly, the adjective gross or clear can precede invasion for emphasis.

Common Mistakes

The company's policy invades the workers privacy.
The company's policy is an invasion of the workers' privacy.
In this sense, invasion is a noun that requires the verb be + an invasion of; do not treat invade as a transitive verb here.
I felt like an invasion when she asked about my salary.
I felt her question was an invasion of my privacy.
The sense requires a noun phrase (an invasion of [something]), not a standalone noun describing a feeling.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A full-scale invasion involves sending armed forces into a country with the aim of taking and holding territory over a sustained period. An attack is far broader — it can be any act of violence against a target, from a single bomb to a ground assault, and does not imply territorial ambition. An incursion is a brief, often exploratory entry into enemy space without the intent of staying. A raid is a swift surprise operation for a specific goal (destroying a supply depot, gathering intelligence, capturing someone), after which the raiders withdraw. Occupation is the prolonged control that follows a successful invasion — the occupying force stays to govern. For example, the German invasion of Poland in 1939 led to a brutal occupation, while the D-Day landings began as an invasion and the subsequent advance involved countless smaller attacks, incursions, and tactical raids.

attack ↗incursionraid ↗occupation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • act of invasion
  • threat of invasion
  • invasion of privacy

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Invasion entered English from French in the 1400s, tracing back to the Latin invasio, formed from invadere — a combination of in- 'into' and vadere 'to go or walk'. The earliest meaning was exclusively military: a hostile entry into another's territory. By the 1700s, the word had broadened to describe any overwhelming influx of people or things, and by the 1900s it was also applied to intrusions into an individual's personal life and privacy.